Oireachtas committee refuses public hearing over Ibrahim Halawa

Mr Halawa, an Irish citizen, is awaiting a mass trial in Egypt after his arrest in 2013 for his alleged participation in a political protest.

Lawyers at Belfast firm KRW Law LLP say they believe he faces the death penalty if convicted.

Pat Breen, chairman of the committee, said he preferred an “informal meeting” with Mr Halwa’s legal team amid accusations that the case was being used as a “political football”.

A motion tabled by Senator Mark Daly called for the committee to hear public testimony from barristers at Doughty Street Chambers, who are one of three legal teams working on the case.

Senator Daly said: “If there is criticism, let us hear it in public. My concern is that members of the Government do not want to hear criticism of the Department of Foreign Affairs on what they should and shouldn’t be doing.”